NoaIzumiAnime Review: eX-Driver, the Movie
May 1st 2009 22:32
The eX-Drivers come to America! Lisa, Lorna, and Suichi are in Los Angeles for an international eX-Driver race, and on their first day, become embroiled in a plot involving a young girl, a ten million dollar pay-out, and the future of eX-driving itself!
It’s eX-Driver: No Mercy! This release combines two stories, one following our favorite teen drivers when they strut their stuff overseas, and a prequel, Danger Zone, that stars the former eX-Drivers introduced in the series, Nina and Rei.
eX-Driver: The Movie delivers the same thing the series did: lots of car chases, cool machines, good music, and fun. This addition also surpasses its predecessor plotwise. Its villains are more creative, and the storylines of the movie and prequel are more intricate than those of the series, with mis-directs to surprise the audience (OK, the first misdirect wasn’t all that surprising, but the second one caught me flat-footed). There’s also opening exposition to explain the situation if you haven’t seen the series.
The movie is as unrealistic as the series was. For example, only two eX-Drivers cover a city as big as Los Angeles, and no one seems to have a problem with the police associating with a mobster (albeit a former one). But, if it didn’t bother you in the series, it probably won’t bother you now.
The driving scenes are excellent, of course, and make good use of CGI.
As is the case with many animes that cross to the United States, there is a bit of Ugly Americanism shown, although that term is a little strong in this case. American eX-Driver David is a drama queen, but his partner and romantic interest Kelly is very helpful to Lisa and Lorna. In addition, there’s a detective who doesn’t think much of eX-Drivers and has a bad habit of grabbing girls’ butts (particularly Lisa’s), but he comes through for the good guys when they really need it.
In Danger Zone, it is really cool to see Rei and Nina together as a driving team. Viewers saw them in the series, but that was when they had gone their separate ways. As written, their younger selves are easily as much fun as Lisa and Lorna.
Geeking out: Ken Tamioka from the series is here in a recurring cameo, and in Danger Zone, Neboshin (Afro-man) from Excel Saga appears as a pedestrian.
Extras: Clean opening and closing for both features, three mini-features showing the eX-Drivers preparing for the trip to America.
Summary: A good cap to the series, which really delivers on the driving action and everything else that makes eX-Driver so much fun.
Age rating: 13 and up. Some gun violence, but nothing serious. The animators still never pass up a chance to show off Lisa’s midriff. Danger Zone has some fan service, and one of the mini-features takes place in a hot spring.
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